LAC standoff worsens as Chinese breach in East Ladakh continues

According to sources 50 personnel of People's Liberation Army arrived in nine vehicles in addition to the 35-odd personnel already camping at a hillock in the Chumar area

The standoff between Indian and Chinese troops in Eastern Ladakh showed no sign of ending on Saturday as the two sides continued to hold on to their positions. In a recent development, 50 personnel of People's Liberation Army (PLA) arrived in nine vehicles in addition to the 35-odd personnel already camping at a hillock in the Chumar area.

This is the second face-off on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the last two years. Last year, the standoff continued for 21 days at Depsang near Daulat Beg Oldie before the two armies withdrew from their positions.

Sources said it would not be easy for
the Chinese troops to simply back off as they had advanced to the border
in Chumar to defend the construction of a road.

The Indian side is clear on their stand that their Chinese counterparts had bent guidelines and moved closer.

The Indian Army has not allowed any activity on its side of the
perceived LAC by putting up a strong resistance in terms of number of
personnel at the border.

In
Demchok, east of Chumar, Indians continue to resist the high-handedness
of Chinese nomads by objecting to the construction of an irrigation
canal there.

Chinese
troops are being reinforced through helicopters as their supply lines
are far, sources said. Meanwhile, the Indian Army has been asked not to
relent. Officials claim there was no incursion by the Chinese.

"They are sitting on their side of the LAC and we are holding our positions," they said.

The
situation is unusual as troops on both sides do not hold positions in
disputed areas of the frontier. Only patrols are sent and even they move
back to positions far away from the LAC.